Night. Dark clouds.
Rain poured in torrents.
Tangible blades swept forth like a light yet savage gale. With a single punch from her, all manner of blades raced up Saria's arm, and the latter's sleeves exploded inch by inch like blooming fireworks.
The blades hacked against Calcification's snow-white flesh with a clanging din, sparks bursting forth before the rain extinguished them.
"Let me guess. You want to stall us by force until the shrine maiden notices something wrong outside the shrine and comes to break this, right?"
Hoshino shook her head and said,
"Too weak, far too weak. No matter what, placing your hopes in someone else is the height of weakness! What I mean is, if you want to devote yourselves to someone, why not devote yourselves to me?"
She had found the essence of her role and proudly lifted her chin.
"Look at me. I'm this powerful, and my face is flawless too. I'm practically the perfect object of devotion!"
Muelsyse shook her head helplessly.
"Or is it that you refuse to acknowledge me?"
Hoshino's expression abruptly changed, and her power surged. The storm-like blades all vanished, and she gripped a ruler as thick as a door in her hand. Leaping high into the air, she came crashing down with overwhelming force.
"You're obviously just two ants. You've failed so many times already, so why won't you devote yourselves?"
Boom!
The ground beneath them shattered inch by inch. Like a nail, Saria was driven into the earth by the sudden blow, with only her head left exposed.
The sight was just as cartoonish.
If the situation had not been so dire, Muelsyse would definitely have burst out laughing.
"This isn't some manga or novel world."
Saria answered between coughs as she stubbornly crawled out of the crater.
"Being